With lake levels down, city commission encourages water conservation

The Shawnee City Commission voted to begin creating a committee to work toward water conservation Monday night.

Carmen Bourlon

The Shawnee City Commission voted to begin creating a committee to work toward water conservation Monday night.

The commission met and discussed several items, including creating another committee to create a comprehensive calendar to include events from the Shawnee Industrial Authority, The Heart of Oklahoma Exposition Center, the Shawnee Economic Development Foundation, the Greater Shawnee Area Chamber of Commerce, and other community organizations.

Mayor Wes Mainord said he hopes this will help to facilitate more community involvement in different events.

The commission also voted unanimously to create a committee to educate the community, and especially the youth, on water conservation.

Mainord said he would like to invite Joe Taron of the Pottawatomie County Development Authority to assist with this committee. He also requested other names of individuals who would be able to assist with this endeavor.

Mainord added that he is very concerned about the current lake levels, especially without any rain in the near future. Shawnee Twin Lakes No. 1 is currently at 1,064.48 feet, as of press time.

In order to begin the voluntary water rationing, the lakes must be at 1,064 feet. Mandatory water rationing begins when the lakes reach 1,058 feet, or when water production at the water treatment reaches 6 million gallons daily.

Water treatment has been 4 million gallons daily, on average, for the last few months, Shawnee Utility Director Jim Bierd said.

Voluntary water rationing steps include turning off the tap when shaving or brushing your teeth, taking a shower instead of a bath because showers use less water, filling the sink if doing dishes by hand, keeping a pitcher of water in the refrigerator instead of waiting for water to cool from the tap, washing only full loads of laundry, and looking for water saving features when replacing water filters.

The commission may take more action on this item at their next meeting.